Opus One

About This Movie

So, Opus One from 1968 is quite an intriguing piece. It’s this blend of color and black and white that really sets a unique tone—like it’s playing with the boundaries of the cinematic experience. The humor is sharp, poking fun at those classic Hollywood romance tropes, while also diving into the student film critique process. I mean, it's meta before meta was cool, you know? The soundtrack overlays voices critiquing the film, which adds this layer of self-awareness that feels almost avant-garde for its time. The performances are earnest, capturing that slightly awkward charm of student filmmakers, and there’s something refreshing about its pacing that keeps you engaged without feeling rushed. Definitely a distinctive piece from the UCLA archives.

Opus One is a rare gem in the collector's landscape, especially given its preservation by the esteemed UCLA Film and Television Archive. It appears mainly in student film collections and niche festival circuits, which adds to its rarity. The mix of humor and critique makes it a noteworthy discussion piece among collectors interested in film history and student cinema, though copies are not the easiest to come by. Its dual format of color and black and white also piques interest, marking it as a distinctive artifact of its era.